Co-dispensing valve

ABSTRACT

A co-dispensing valve capable of dispensing a blended product formed of two compositions, maintained in two separate compartments. Blending occurs immediately prior to dispensing within a blending chamber by means of a swirl chamber formed between the valve stem sealer and the lower end of the valve stem. Each composition flows to the blending chamber through separate metering orifices and then past sealing means for each compartment. Movement of the valve stem disengages both sealing means thereby allowing both compositions to flow into the blending chamber immediately prior dispensing of the blended product.

[ 1 July4,l972

United States Patent Ewald s41 CO-DISPENSING VALVE 3,540,623 11/1970 Wittkeetal......................222/l36X [72] Inventor: human-Id,komngmadowmm 3,583,604 6/1971 Marand............................. ...222/193 Assignee: Selquist Valve Company, Division of Pitt- P imary Examiner-RobertB. Reeves way Corporation, Cary, lll.

Nov. 23, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 9|,825

Assistant Examiner-.lohn P. Shannon. .I r. Anomey-Stefan M. Stein [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A co-dispensing valve capable of dispensing a blended product formed of two compositions, maintained in two W565. 83/ separate compartments. Blending occurs immediately prior to [58] Field oiSeareh l 36, I45, 402.1, 402.24,

[52] [1.8. Cl.....................................222I402.2l, 222l402.24

dispensing within a blending chamber by means of a swirl chamber formed between the valve stem sealer and the lower end of the valve stem. Each composition flows to the blending chamber through separate metering orifices and then past sealing means for each compartment. Movement of the valve stem disengages both sealing means thereby allowing both compositions to flow into the blending chamber immediately 3 3 2 9 2 H w n m 2 m 0 u 4 m v S Tm 4 m NMMM H p-m Z SW m e ITM S e M E T 1 8 W 7 3 i 9 6 M U 3 prior dispensing of the blended product.

145L596 6/1969 Marand... 3,47l.092 10/1969 Hickey...........................

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuL 4 m2 SHEET 20? 2 INVENTOR. RONALD F EWALD BY ma ATTOR NE Y CO-DISPENSING VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a co-dispensing aerosol valve capable of simultaneously dispensing a blended product formed of a plurality of compositions maintained in separate compartments.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art aerosol dispensers generally comprise a pressurized container having a dispensing valve at the upper end thereof which is designed to selectively dispense a product from the interior of the container. This valve is normally manually operated and is activated by either tilting or vertically depressing a valve button or actuator, which in turn moves a valve stem causing it to break a sealing engagement within the valve. When the valve is opened, the internal pressure of a propellant on the surface of a product inside forces the product up through the valve and out the valve button or actuator generally as an aerosol spray, although jets etc. are occasionally desired.

The majority of these conventional aerosol valves are primarily designed for the dispensing of a single product from a single container under pressure. Recently however, a variety of products have appeared on the market wherein the product being dispensed is a mixture of two or more compositions which have been mixed just prior to or during dispensing. These compositions are maintained in separate compartments which are part of the same container. The final product is dispensed through the valve immediately after blending has occurred. Separation of the compositions is necessary so that particular properties may be maintained for an extended period during storage of the aerosol container. Products of this nature include foods, paints, insecticides, cosmetics and various toiletries. One specific example is a self-heated shaving lather. Heating of the lather occurs by mixing with hydrogen peroxide just prior to dispensing. The reason for maintaining the lather composition from the hydrogen peroxide during storage should be self evident. Other reasons for maintaining compositions separately are incompatability deterioration, corrosion forming product etc.

In dispensing products of this nature, convenu'onal codispensing valves suffer from a number of problems. These problems include incomplete mixing of the specific compositions or ingredients making up the product. The feeding of the proper proportion to a blending chamber or mixing area at the proper rate also leaves much to be desired. An additional difficulty involves the complete dispensing of all of the product after the compositions or ingredients have been mixed. In many applications, it is necessary to insure that there will be no residue or presence of an unmixed composition ingredient in the blending chamber after the dispensing ofthe product.

In order to overcome these difficulties, conventional dodispensing valves have resorted to relatively complex structure resulting in added expense in the manufacture and use of these valves. Also these more complex valve structures have a relatively high failure rate resulting in loss of product and added to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The valve of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages prevalent in conventional valves by providing a dispensing aerosol valve of reliable and simple construction designed to simultaneously dispense a freshly mixed product from two ingredients or compositions stored in two separate compartments which may be arranged in concentric fashion and form a single container. The valve comprises a hollow valve body. A valve stem sealer is movably mounted in the cavity of the body and is forced into sealing engagement with a first sealing means by a valve biasing means, such as a spring. The first sealing means is in the form of a sealing ring made of relatively flexible material mounted on top of the valve body by means ofa mounting cup. A valve stem extends through the sealing ring.

A blending chamber is defined between the lower extremity of the valve stem and the upper cavity of the valve stem sealer. Blending of the two separate compositions or ingredients occur within this blending chamber by means of a swirl chamber formed within the cavity of the valve stem sealer. The swirl chamber comprises a plurality of tangential channels formed in the floor of the cavity of the valve stem sealer. The channels extend inwardly towards the center. It is important to note that the blending chamber is, at all times, vented to atmosphere. This allows for the complete dispensing of all of the blended product within the chamber. onsequently, the user of the valve is always assured of getting a freshly blended product.

A first metering orifice is formed in the valve body. Product from the first compartment passes through this first metering orifice on its way to the blending chamber.

An elongated passage is formed in the interior of the valve stem sealer along its longitudinal axis and a second metering orifice, located at the lower extremity of this elongated passage is in communication therewith. It is normally positioned opposite a second sealing means when the valve stem is not depressed or tilted. The second sealing means is in the form of an inner ring gasket made from a relatively resilient material and surrounding the portion of the valve stem sealer at which the second metering orifice is located. The composition or ingredient from the second compartment passes up through a dip tube mounted on the dip tube tail integrally attached to the valve body.

An inner compartment support skirt is attached or integrally fonned onto the valve body and includes a projecting conduit to which is attached the dip tube from the first compartment. The second compartment is attached to this skirt in concentric relation to the dip tube of the second container which is attached to the dip tube tail. The internal second compartment may be made of a flexible material such that the internal pressure built up in the first or exterior compartment presses against this second compartment to force the composition in the second compartment up through the valve body into the blending chamber. It should also be noted that this valve may be utilized without the use of dip tubes positioned on the interior of the separate compartment. Without the use of dip tubes, dispensing occurs by activating the valve in an inverted position.

In operation, depressing or tilting of the valve stem forces the valve stem sealer downward against the biasing force of the valve spring thereby disengaging the upper extremity of the valve stem sealer from the sealing ring. At the same time, since the second metering orifice is formed directly in the valve stem sealer, it is also forced downward, out of sealing engagement with the inner gasket. With the valve stem sealer in this depressed position the blending chamber is now in direct communication with both the first and second compartments. Consequently the compositions from the second compartment flows up through the second dip tube, through the dip tube tail, through the second metering orifice, up through the elongated passage in the valve stem sealer and into the blending chamber. At this point both products are blended and directed out of the valve through the valve stem.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the dispensing valve of the present invention in a closed or non-dispensing position.

FIG. 2 is a top section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the interior of the swirl chamber formed in the upper extremity of the valve stem sealer.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the aerosol valve in a product dispensing position by means of the valve stem being placed in a vertically depressed position.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the aerosol valve in a product dispensing position by means of the valve stem sealer being angularly tilted.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIP'HON The aerosol valve of the present invention is generally in dicated as in FIG. 1 and comprises a valve body 12 having a valve body cavity 13 defined therein. A valve stem sealer 14 is movably mounted in cavity 13 in sealing engagement with a first sealing means. The first sealing means is in the form of a sealing ring 16 and is held in place on the top of the valve body 12 by means of mounting cup 18. A valve stem 20 protrudes through the sealing ring 16 and its lower end is secured between the valve stem sealer 14 and sealing ring 16. A valve spring 22 forces valve stem sealer 14 upwardly such that an annular ridge 24 of valve stem sealer 14 sealingly engages with sealing ring 16.

A blending chamber 26 is defined by protruding nipple 28 formed within the upper cavity of the valve stem sealer 14 and a correspondingly formed spherical socket 30 formed in the lower extremity of the valve stem 20v Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2 a swirl chamber generally indicated as 32 is formed on the floor of the upper cavity of valve stem sealer l4 and comprises a plurality of tangential grooves 34 extending inwardly in communicating relation with an annular channel 36 located at the base ofnipple 28.

The interior of the valve body communicates with the first or outer compartment by means of a first metering orifice 38 formed in the base of valve body 12. It is arranged in intercommunicating relation between a first dip tube 40 and the interior of the valve body.

A second metering orifice 42 is formed in the tail of valve stem sealer l4 and communicates with blending chamber 26 by means of an elongated passage 44 positioned along the longitudinal axis of the valve stem sealer 14. In the closed position, a second sealing means comprising an inner ring gasket 46, is positioned in sealing engagement to the second metering orifice 42. The second composition in the second or inner compartments is allowed to flow up a second clip tube 48 and into the dip tube tail 50 integrally attached to the valve body 12. Consequently downward movement of valve stem sealer [4, to an extent that the second metering orifice 42 is out of sealing engagement with inner ring gasket 46, provides direct flow of the second composition in the second compartment to the blending chamber 26. The simultaneous flow of both the first and second compositions into blending chamber 26 causes a preblending of the composition, wherein the resultant mixture will be dispersed through restrictor orifice 52 to the atmosphere via the terminal passage 54in valve stem 20.

An inner compartment support skirt, generally indicated as 56, may be integrally or otherwise fixedly attached to the valve body 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. This skirt comprises an annular depending skirt flange 58 designed to have connected thereto an annular upstanding mating inner compartment flange 60. Skirt 56 further includes an outwardly projecting conduit 62 which is primarily designed as a first or outer compartment dip tube tail to have connected thereto a first dip tube 40. In this manner the skirt provides an efficient means of connecting both compartments to the valve body.

Flow of the two compositions from both the inner and outer compartments to the body cavity may be accomplished by vertically depressing of valve stem 20 as shown in FIG. 3, or the angular tilting of valve stem 20 as shown in FIG. 4. More particularly, vertical depression of valve stem 20, as indicated by directional arrow 64, causes downward movement of valve stern sealer 14 against the biasing force of valve spring 22. This movement causes disengagement of annular ridge 24 from sealing ring 16 and forces the second metering orifice 42 downwardly out of sealing engagement with inner ring gasket 46. Consequently the product from the first compartment (the aerosol container itself) may pass up through dip tube 40, through conduit 62, through the first metering orifice 38, over annular ridge 24 and into blending chamber 26. In addition, the composition from the inner compartment simultaneously flows up through dip tube 48 and dip tube tail 50, into elongated passage 44 by means of metering orifice 42 and finally into blending chamber 26. As briefly explained above, while in blending chamber 26 the first and second compositions are thoroughly mixed by the action of swirl chamber 32 and since the blending chamber 26, is continuously vented to atmosphere, the resultant mixture will then flow through restrictor orifice 52 and be directed outwardly via terminal passage 54 of valve stem 20 and then through the button or actuator usually used with such valve stems. The compositions from the first and second compartments take precisely the same respective paths as described above when, as shown in FIG. 4, the valve stem 20 is tiled angularly, as indicated by directional arrow 68, to depress valve stem sealer 12 against the biasing force of valve spring 22.

It will thus be seen that the objects made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statement of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed 1. An aerosol valve of the co-dispensing type designed to dispense product from a container including both a first and second compartment, said aerosol valve comprising in combination: a valve body mounted in communication with both the first and second compartments, a valve body cavity defined within the interior of said valve body, a valve stem sealer with a hollow elongated tail mounted within said cavity, said tail including a second metering orifice formed thereon, a first sealing means mounted on said valve body in sealing engagement with said valve stem sealer, a hollow valve stem with its lower end secured between said first sealing means and said valve stem sealer, a second sealing means arranged in sliding engagement with said tail of said valve stem sealer, biasing means to bias said valve stem sealer into sealing engagement with said first sealing means and said second metering orifice into sealing engagement with said second sealing means, a blending chamber defined by said valve stem sealer and said valve stem and arranged to be in direct communication with atmosphere; whereby composition from said first and second compartments are blended in said blending chamber and codispensed from said chamber through said valve stem.

2. The aerosol valve of claim I further comprising a first metering orifice interconnecting said first compartment with said valve body cavity and positioned relative to said valve stem sealer and said first sealing means such that flow from said first orifice to said chamber is regulated by the sealing engagement between said valve stem sealer and said first sealing means.

3. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means comprises a sealing ring and said second sealing means comprising an inner ring gasket, said inner ring gasket being contained within said valve body and in moving relation to said second metering orifice of said valve stem sealer so as to sealingly engage said second orifice; whereby flow from the second compartment to said chamber is regulated by the relative position of said second orifice and said inner ring gasket.

4. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means comprises a sealing gasket held in place on the top of valve body by a mounting cap; said second sealing means comprises an inner ring gasket contained within said valve body, said valve stem sealer mounted in said cavity is movable engagement with both said sealing ring and said inner ring gasket such that flow from said first and second containers is dependent upon the position of said valve stem sealer.

5. The aerosol valve of claim 4 wherein said valve stem is so mounted as to cause disengagement of said valve stem sealer from said sealing ring and disengagement of said second metering orifice from said inner ring gasket, whereby compositions from both the first and second compartments simultaneously flow to the blending chamber.

6. The aerosol valve of claim 5 wherein said stem is capable of both reciprocal and tilt action relative to said sealing ring.

7. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said blending chamber comprises a plurality of tangential channels extending inwardly to the chamber center, said channel positioned to receive flow from both the first and second compartments, whereby the products from the first and second compartments are blended in a swirl fmhion.

8. The aerosol valve of claim I further comprising in combination an inner compartment support skirt connected to said valve body, said skirt including means to connect the second compartment to said valve body.

9. The aerosol valve of claim 8 wherein said second compartment is mounted on said skirt so as to be positioned within the interior of the first compartment in substantially concentric relation thereto.

l i I i t 

1. An aerosol valve of the co-dispensing type designed to dispense product from a container including both a first and second compartment, said aerosol valve comprising in combination: a valve body mounted in communication with both the first and second compartments, a valve body cavity defined within the interior of said valve body, a valve stem sealer with a hollow elongated tail mounted within said cavity, said tail including a second metering orifice formed thereon, a first sEaling means mounted on said valve body in sealing engagement with said valve stem sealer, a hollow valve stem with its lower end secured between said first sealing means and said valve stem sealer, a second sealing means arranged in sliding engagement with said tail of said valve stem sealer, biasing means to bias said valve stem sealer into sealing engagement with said first sealing means and said second metering orifice into sealing engagement with said second sealing means, a blending chamber defined by said valve stem sealer and said valve stem and arranged to be in direct communication with atmosphere; whereby composition from said first and second compartments are blended in said blending chamber and co-dispensed from said chamber through said valve stem.
 2. The aerosol valve of claim 1 further comprising a first metering orifice interconnecting said first compartment with said valve body cavity and positioned relative to said valve stem sealer and said first sealing means such that flow from said first orifice to said chamber is regulated by the sealing engagement between said valve stem sealer and said first sealing means.
 3. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means comprises a sealing ring and said second sealing means comprising an inner ring gasket, said inner ring gasket being contained within said valve body and in moving relation to said second metering orifice of said valve stem sealer so as to sealingly engage said second orifice; whereby flow from the second compartment to said chamber is regulated by the relative position of said second orifice and said inner ring gasket.
 4. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said first sealing means comprises a sealing gasket held in place on the top of valve body by a mounting cap; said second sealing means comprises an inner ring gasket contained within said valve body, said valve stem sealer mounted in said cavity is movable engagement with both said sealing ring and said inner ring gasket such that flow from said first and second containers is dependent upon the position of said valve stem sealer.
 5. The aerosol valve of claim 4 wherein said valve stem is so mounted as to cause disengagement of said valve stem sealer from said sealing ring and disengagement of said second metering orifice from said inner ring gasket, whereby compositions from both the first and second compartments simultaneously flow to the blending chamber.
 6. The aerosol valve of claim 5 wherein said stem is capable of both reciprocal and tilt action relative to said sealing ring.
 7. The aerosol valve of claim 1 wherein said blending chamber comprises a plurality of tangential channels extending inwardly to the chamber center, said channel positioned to receive flow from both the first and second compartments, whereby the products from the first and second compartments are blended in a swirl fashion.
 8. The aerosol valve of claim 1 further comprising in combination an inner compartment support skirt connected to said valve body, said skirt including means to connect the second compartment to said valve body.
 9. The aerosol valve of claim 8 wherein said second compartment is mounted on said skirt so as to be positioned within the interior of the first compartment in substantially concentric relation thereto. 